Link chain



Patented Dec. 3, 1929 `mamen STATES PATENT oFFicl:

CHARLES R. TOST, OF` CENTERDALE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T THE HADLEYCOMPANY, OF BROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A `CORI?ORATON 0F RHODE ISLANDLINK CHAIN y lVi-ist watch bracelets of thelink type and other` jewelrychains have been provided with various kinds of adjustable buckles,clasps and other connections whereby the bracelet or the like may beadjusted in length at one or botliends, but such adjustments have notbeen satisfactory for various reasons, chief of which are that theadjusting means is either too bulky or unsightly or is too limited inits range of adjustment. Objects of the present invention are toeliminate these objections and to provide a bracelet or other chainwhich has an unlimited range of adjustment and which at the same timehas no visible means of adjustment whatsoever, which may be readilyadjusted. to any length with no tool or instrument other than anordinary pin or hairpin, which has simple connectors at the ends freefrom adjusting means, which is neat and attractive in appearance, whichis smooth and comfortable when worm as a bracelet7 and which isgenerally superior to prior bracelets. j

For the purposes of illustration one concrete embodiment ot theinvention is shown in `the accompanying drawings7 in which:

Fig. l is an outside plan View of the wrist watch bracelet;

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the bracelet;

Fig. 8 is a plan view ofthe under side of a portion of the bracelet onan enlarged scale;

F ig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 ot' Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal central section oi a preferred form of pivotpin forming' one ele- .ment of the new combination;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the under or inner side of the front plateelement of the bracelet; and

F ig? is a plan View of the inner or under side oi a portieri of therear or back plate of one of the links.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose otillustration comprises a plurality of links l pivotally interconnectedby means of pivot pins 2. The end links or connectors 3 are ot thesimple snap type which hook over the bars ordinarily provided on wristwatches.

Each link l comprises a rontplate having down-turned ends l providedwith integral lips or ears 5 and G for pivotally interconnect ing thelinks together. On one side o'l' each link (the left-hand side in theligure) the ears comprise continuations of the ends 4f, thecontinuations being perforated and being curved transversely of theplane of the front plate substantially concentrically with theperforations therein. At the other side of each link (the right-handside oi' the ligure) the ears G are formed by swaging the ends linwardly so that the outer :tace of each ear 6 lies in substantially thesame plane as the inner face of the corresponding ear 5. In the swagingoperation a curved recess 7 is formed outside the ear 6 to receive theear 5 of the next adjacent link, this recess being curved to lit snuglyagainst the periphery of the ear 5 from the inner edge of the end laround to the plane containing the right-hand edge of the irontplate andthe axis of the pivot opening in the ear` 6. y j

Thepivot pin 2A comprises outer tube 8 which substantially bridges theinner ears 6 of each link and pin means inside the tube havingprojections 9 extending from each end of the tube through theoverlapping ears 5 and 6 and terminating substantially in the planesotthe outer sides of the outer ears 5. In the preferred embodiment shownin the figures the pin means is in the form of a single integral pinwhose diameter is slightly less than the `interior diameter of the tubeand which is curved slightly so as to bear against one side of the tubeat the center with a spring action as shown in Fig. 5. Thus, byproviding an interitting groove and ridge on the pin and tuberespectively,4 the pin may be re tained in place with a snap action, itbeing understood that the interior diameter at l0 is slightly greaterthan the exterior diameter oli' the pin 9 so that the pin may betelescoped lengthwise of the tube by pressing on either end ol the pinwith sufficient force to cam the groove on the pin from the annularprotuberance in the tube. If desired the extreme ends of the pin 9 maybe slightly enlarged by swaging so as not to pass through therestriction 10 in the tube, whereby the pin 9 may not be accidentallylost from the tube.

To interconnect the links one end of pin 9 whereupon theproj'ecting endof the pin?) is yeo f meaasi pressed inwardly until the retractedend isVprojected through the other pair ofears 5l andati, To removealinkfromm-the bracelet the pins associated with one link are pressedinwardly at one endV of the link until` the overlapping ears at that endof the link are disengaged, whereuponfthe link may be swung outofposition and lifted bodily from the bracelet 'In orderto present asmooth surface to the wrist anda neat appearance whenv removed from thewrist, the' bracelet` is also preferably provided with back plates 1lwhich, as s'hown'in Figs. 3,4 and 7, substantially bridge the ends 4flush with the' rear edges of the ends and they" also substantiallybridge'V adjacenttubes 8 substantially in the plane of the rear side ofthe tube, thereby substantially closingl the space between the tubes.

T lier edges' ofthebackY plate on the sides of the plate,extendingltransversely of the bracelet are curved to extend'int'oy the spacesbetween the front plate and the tubes as shown in 4L Thus, the1 backplates are held in positiony by the tubeswithout the neces# sity of'anyadditional attaching means (although additional means maybe provided ifdesired)l and the back plates do not in any way interfere with theflexingf'of the bracelet.

From the: foregoing" it' will 'be'y understood that the'i1ser,'me1'ely"by the'use of a pinl or hairpin, may'- remove one' ormore' linksv from the bracelet tofadj ust the length of the brace'- letto' hisA` or hier wrist and that the adjusting means is not apparent,theA exposed ends of v the pin 9pre'senting the' Sameappearance as theordinary pivot pin heretofore used in linkrbracelets of thistype.

I 'danni v p l. A chain comprising` front plates with turned-down endshaving integral overlap- 'pmjgSears providedwith registering pivotopenings for pivotally interconnecting the links, a' tubebridgingft'heinner ears at each 'side-of a'link with its bore inalignment with said openings', pinv means sliding lengthwise breachvtube withfprdje'ctionsextending from the ends of the'tube` through saidopenings, adseparate back plates bridging sardiends;- a't-{the rearedges thereof, opposite" sides of eachyback plate i'nterengaging betweenthe' front' plate' and the` adjacent' tubes.-

2. A chain for Bracelets comprising front plates,a pivot pins bywhiehthe plates" are hinged together,-tubular means by which the pinsare encased, and 'back plates having inturned edges engaged' under" saidtubular 3. A chain for bracelets comprising front plates havingturned-down ends, pivot pins by which the plates are hinged together,tubular means by which the pins are encased, and backplates bridgingsaid turned-down endsl and having inturned edges engaged under saidtubular means.

4. A chain i'or bracelets comprising front plates, tubular meansextendingtransversely of the chain at the joints, pivot )ins telescopedwithin said tubular means ior pivotally interconnecting the frontplates, and back plates having inturned edges engaged under said'tubular" means.

5. A chain for bracelets comprising `front plates having turned-downends, tubular means extending transversely ol the chain at the joints,pivot pins telescoped within said tubular means for pivotallyinterconnecting the front plat-es, and back plates bridging saidturned-down ends having inturned edges engaged under said tubular means.

Signed by me at Providence, Rhode Island, this llth day otk October,1928.

CHARLES R. TOST.

